High-Efficiency Water Boiling Device

ABSTRACT

A water boiling device includes a heat tank unit received in a machine body, a high frequency induction heater, and a heat pipe unit. Heat tank unit includes first and second heating tanks in communication with each other. Outside water can flow into first and second heating tanks. The high frequency induction heater includes a heat pipe induction coil and first and second induction coils. The heat pipe unit includes first and second heating pipes. An upper section of each heating pipe is received in one of heating tanks, and a lower section of each heating pipe extends out of heating tanks and is inserted into heat pipe induction coil. The first and second heating tanks will heat up to heat the water in first and second heating tanks when a high frequency current is passed through the heat pipe induction coil and first and second induction coils.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water boiling device and, moreparticularly, to a water boiling device by means of high-frequencyheating.

2. Description of the Related Art

A water boiler operated on gas, natural gas or diesel is often used in aschool, hospital, hotel, office, factory, military camp or the like toprovide water for drinking or washing. However, there is always a riskof incomplete combustion that leads to the production of lethal carbonmonoxide. Furthermore, if we use electric energy for the heating, thereis the possibility of high power consumption and slow heating rate.

Thus, a fast heating, energy saving, quite safe water boiler isrequired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to overcome theaforementioned shortcoming and deficiency of the prior art by providinga water boiling device that utilizes high frequency induction heating toheat cold water and has the advantages such as high heating efficiency,power saving, and high utilization safety.

To achieve the foregoing objective, a water boiling device of thepresent invention includes a machine body, a heat tank unit, and a highfrequency induction heater. The heat tank unit is received in themachine body and includes first and second heating tanks spaced in ahorizontal direction. The first heating tank is in communication withthe second heating tank and adapted for containing water from a waterinlet pipe so that water to be heated can be supplied to the first andsecond heating tanks through the water inlet pipe. The high frequencyinduction heater includes a high frequency power, a first inductioncoil, and a second induction coil. The first and second induction coilsare respectively disposed around the first and second heating tanks andelectrically connected to the high frequency power so that the first andsecond heating tanks will heat up to heat the water in the first andsecond heating tanks when a high frequency current supplied by the highfrequency power is passed through the first and second induction coils.

In a preferred form, the water boiling device further includes a heatpipe unit having first and second heating pipes. Each of the first andsecond heating pipes includes upper and lower sections spaced in avertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The highfrequency induction heater further includes a heat pipe induction coilelectrically connected to the high frequency power. The upper section ofeach of the first and second heating pipes is received in one of thefirst and second heating tanks. The lower section of each of the firstand second heating pipes is located out of the first and second heatingtanks and received in the heat pipe induction coil. The first and secondheating pipes will heat up to heat the water in the first and secondheating tanks when the high frequency current is passed through the heatpipe induction coil.

Preferably, each of the first and second heating pipes is filled withheat conduction liquid, and the upper section of each of the first andsecond heating pipes is provided with a plurality of heat transmissionfins. The heat pipe induction coil includes first and second coilsegments. The lower section of each of the first and second heatingpipes is received in one of the first and second coil segments of theheat pipe induction coil.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a schematically perspective view of a water boiling deviceaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematically structural view of the water boiling deviceof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematically structural view of a water boiling deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A high efficiency water boiling device of a first embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings andgenerally designated 10. The water boiling device 10 includes a machinebody 12, a heat tank unit 14, a high frequency induction heater 16, anda heat pipe unit 18. The machine body 12 is received in an outer shell20. On the outer shell 20, a man-machine interface (operation panel) 22is provided for users to do settings and/or read the temperature of hotwater. A support frame 24 is provided below the machine body 12 tosupport the machine body 12. In this embodiment, machine body 12includes a top plate 26, a bottom plate 28, and a side plate 30 locatedbetween top plate 26 and bottom plate 28 and defining a periphery ofmachine body 12. The machine body 12 includes a receiving space 32therein.

Heat tank unit 14 is received in the receiving space 32 of machine body12 and includes a plurality of heating tanks spaced in a horizontaldirection. In this embodiment, heat tank unit 14 includes a firstheating tank 34, a second heating tank 35, and an intermediate heatingtank 36 located between first and second heating tanks 34 and 35. Inthis embodiment, each heating tank 34, 35, 36 is a metallic cylinder andincludes upper and lower ends 38, and 40 spaced in a vertical directionperpendicular to the horizontal direction. A water inlet pipe 42 isconnected to the lower end 40 of first heating tank 34, and one end ofthe water inlet pipe 42 is connected to a water storage device such as awater tower (not shown) so that water 44 (as pointed by arrow 44) to beheated can be supplied to first heating tank 34. Further, a check valve46 is provided on the water inlet pipe 42 to avoid the reverse flow ofwater 44 in first heating tank 34. The upper end 38 of intermediateheating tank 36 is in communication with the upper end 38 of firstheating tank 34 by a first pipe 48, allowing water 44 in the firstheating tank 34 flowing into the intermediate heating tank 36 when thelevel of water 44 in the first heating tank 34 reaches to the height offirst pipe 48. Intermediate heating tank 36 is in communication withsecond heating tank 35 by a second pipe 50 so that water 44 in theintermediate heating tank 36 can, through second pipe 50, flow intosecond heating tank 35. Moreover, a water outlet pipe 52 is connected tosecond heating tank 35 so that water 44 in second heating tank 35 can besent out. One end of water outlet pipe 52 extends out of machine body 12and is provided with a water outlet valve 54. It can be appreciated thatthe heat tank unit 14 may only includes a first heating tank 34 and asecond heating tank 35.

High frequency induction heater 16 including a main body 56, a highfrequency power 58 installed in main body 56, and a plurality ofinduction coils. In this embodiment, high frequency induction heater 16includes a first induction coil 60, a second induction coil 62, anintermediate induction coil 64, and a heat pipe induction coil 66. Waterinlet pipe 42 extends through main body 56 so that the heat generated byhigh frequency induction heater 16 can be absorbed and dissipated bywater 44 flowing through water inlet pipe 42, and that water 44 can bealso preheated. Each induction coil 60, 62, 64, 66 is electricallyconnected to the high frequency power 58. The power of high frequencypower 58 can be powered by a general city power or by a solar energypower generator. High frequency power 58 can be controlled so as toprovide high frequency current to each induction coil 60, 62, 64, 66.

Each of first, second, and intermediate induction coils 60, 62, and 64includes a plurality of helix-shape coil segments 68 spaced in thevertical direction and disposed around one of first, second, andintermediate heating tanks 34, 35 and 36. Thus, when high frequencypower 58 supplies high frequency current to the first, second, andintermediate induction coil 60, 62, 64, first, second, and intermediateheating tank 34, 35, and 36 will get the induction and uniform heating.Further, heating pipe induction coil 66 includes a plurality ofhelix-shape coil segments 70 spaced in the horizontal direction andaligned with lower ends of first, second, and intermediate heating tank34, 35 and 36 respectively.

In the preferred form shown, heat pipe unit 18 includes three heatingpipes 72. Each heating pipe 72 is a metallic pipe filled with heatconduction liquid and includes upper and lower sections 74 and 76 spacedin the vertical direction. The upper section 74 of each heating pipe 72is provided with a plurality of heat transmission fins 78 and receivedin one of first, second, and intermediate heating tank 34, 35, and 36.The lower section 76 of each heating pipe 72 is out of an associatedheating tank and mounted to a support seat 80 to be supported andpositioned. Further, the lower section 76 of each heating pipe 72 isreceived in one of the coil segments 70 of heating pipe induction coil66 so that each heating pipe 72 can momentarily heat up by the eddycurrent generated from heating pipe induction coil 66.

In operation of the water boiling device 10, water 44 to be heated isfirstly flow from water inlet pipe 42 to first heating tank 34, thenthrough first pipe 48, intermediate heating tank 36, and second pipe 50in sequence into second heating tank 35. When high frequency inductionheater 16 operates and high frequency current is supplied to eachinduction coil 60, 62, 64, 66, each induction coil 60, 62, 64, 66 caninduce each heating tank 34, 35, 36 and heating pipe 72 to generate eddycurrent for heating up. When temperature of heating tanks 34, 35, 36gets raised, water 44 in heating tanks 34, 35, 36 will be heated.Further, when the temperature of heating pipes 72 is raised, the water44 in heating tanks 34, 35, 36 will be also heated. Thus, water 44 inheating tanks 34, 35, 36 can be rapidly heated to form hot water.

In the embodiment, water boiling device 10 further includes a pluralityof temperature detectors 82 electrically connected to a temperaturecontrol device 84. Each temperature detector 82 is inserted into one ofheating tanks 34, 35, 36 and water outlet pipe 52 to detect thetemperature of water 44 in each heating tank 34, 35, 36 and to detectthe temperature of hot water 44 outputted from the water outlet pipe 52.Furthermore, the lower end 76 of each heating pipe 72 is alsoelectrically connected to the temperature control device 84 so that thetemperature of each heating pipe 72 can be detected. Thus, temperaturecontrol device 84 can follow the temperature of water 44 in heating tank34, 35, 36 and temperature of each heating pipe 72 to controlindividually on-off of each induction coil 60, 62, 64, 66 of highfrequency induction heater 16 and the current intensity of highfrequency. Further, based on the temperature of water 44 in heating tank34, 35, 36 and the temperature of each heating pipe 72, independentactivation or all activation of induction coils 60, 62, 64, 66 can thenbe controlled so that the hot water 44 outputted from the outlet pipe 52may reach to a determined temperature.

High frequency induction heater 16 of the water boiling device 10according to this invention can utilize small current to rapidly heatheating tanks 34, 35, 36 and heating pipes 72 to a high temperatureranging between 100 and 1000 degrees. Meanwhile, the high temperature ofthe heating tanks 34, 35, 36 and heating pipes 72 will be rapidlytransmitted to water 44 in heating tank 34, 35, 36 for rapid heating.Since the power consumed is small and there is no danger of general gas,it thus has advantages such as power saving, energy saving and carbonreduction as well as high safety. Furthermore, through the independentheating control of each induction coil 60, 62, 64, 66, the hot water 44outputted from the water outlet pipe 52 can be accurately controlled forits temperature. Further, in the structure of water boiling device 10,pipes of small or large diameter may be used to reduce the length ofpiping and lower the volume, which advantageously save materials anddoes not occupy a space.

Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have beenexplained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one havingordinary skill in the art. FIG. 3 shows a water boiling device 10 of asecond embodiment of this invention. Description of the parts of waterboiling device 10 shown in FIG. 3 identical to those shown in FIG. 2 isomitted. In particular, water boiling device 10 in this embodiment doesnot contain heat pipe unit 18 but only includes machine body 12, heattank unit 14, and high frequency induction heater 16. Heat tank unit 14includes a plurality of intermediate heating tanks 36 located betweenfirst and second heating tanks 34 and 35. In this embodiment, eachheating tank 34, 35, 36 is a metallic tube and includes upper and lowerends 38, and 40 spaced in the vertical direction. Intermediate heatingtanks 36 are spaced in the horizontal direction and connected to eachother with pipes 86. Further, two of intermediate heating tanks 36 arerespectively connected to first and second heating tanks 34, and 35 byconnection pipes 88 so that water 44 in first heating tank 34 can flowinto second heating tank 35 through intermediate heating tanks 36.Further, high frequency induction heater 16 includes a first inductioncoil 60, a second induction coil 62, and a plurality of intermediateinduction coils 64. Each of first, second, and intermediate inductioncoils 60, 62, 64 includes a plurality of helix-shape coil segments 68spaced in the vertical direction and disposed around one of first,second, and intermediate heating tanks 34, 35 and 36. Thus, when highfrequency power 58 supplies high frequency current to the first, second,and intermediate induction coils 60, 62, 64, first, second andintermediate heating tanks 34, 35, 36 will get the induction and heat upmomentarily.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A water boiling device comprising, in combination: a machine body; aheat tank unit received in the machine body and including first andsecond heating tanks spaced in a horizontal direction, with the firstheating tank being in communication with the second heating tank andadapted for containing water from a water inlet pipe so that water to beheated can be supplied to the first and second heating tanks through thewater inlet pipe; and a high frequency induction heater including a highfrequency power and first and second induction coils, with the first andsecond induction coils respectively disposed around the first and secondheating tanks, with the first and second induction coils electricallyconnected to the high frequency power so that the first and secondheating tanks will heat up to heat the water in the first and secondheating tanks when a high frequency current supplied by the highfrequency power is passed through the first and second induction coils.2. The water boiling device according to claim I, further comprising, incombination: a heat pipe unit including first and second heating pipes,with each of the first and second heating pipes including upper andlower sections spaced in a vertical direction perpendicular to thehorizontal direction, with the high frequency induction heater furtherincluding a heat pipe induction coil electrically connected to the highfrequency power, with the upper section of each of the first and secondheating pipes received in one of the first and second heating tanks,with the lower section of each of the first and second heating pipeslocated out of the first and second heating tanks and received in theheat pipe induction coil, and with the first and second heating pipesheating up to heat the water in the first and second heating tanks whenthe high frequency current is passed through the heat pipe inductioncoil.
 3. The water boiling device according to claim 2, with each of thefirst and second heating pipes filled with heat conduction liquid, withthe upper section of each of the first and second heating pipes providedwith a plurality of heat transmission fins, with the heat pipe inductioncoil including first and second coil segments, and with the lowersection of each of the first and second heating pipes received in one ofthe first and second coil segments of the heat pipe induction coil. 4.The water boiling device according to claim 3, with the high frequencyinduction heater further including a main body receiving the highfrequency power, and with the water inlet pipe extending through themain body.
 5. The water boiling device according to claim 4, with theheat tank unit further including an intermediate heating tank locatedbetween and in communication with the first and second heating tanks,with the high frequency induction heater further including anintermediate induction coil disposed around the intermediate heatingtank, and with the intermediate induction coil electrically connected tothe high frequency power.
 6. The water boiling device according to claim5, with each of the first, second, and intermediate induction coilsincluding a plurality of coil segments spaced in the vertical directionand disposed around one of the first, second, and intermediate heatingtanks.
 7. The water boiling device according to claim 1, with the highfrequency induction heater further including a main body receiving thehigh frequency power, and with the water inlet pipe extending throughthe main body.
 8. The water boiling device according to claim 7, withthe heat tank unit further including an intermediate heating tanklocated between and in communication with the first and second heatingtanks, with the high frequency induction heater further including anintermediate induction coil disposed around the intermediate heatingtank, and with the intermediate induction coil electrically connected tothe high frequency power.
 9. The water boiling device according to claim8, with each of the first, second, and intermediate induction coilsincluding a plurality of coil segments spaced in the vertical directionand disposed around one of the first, second, and intermediate heatingtanks.